Issue 5: The development of the Civil Rights movement Flashcards
Introduction
Background:
- Black people were becoming more politically powerful and gained a lot of attention in politics as they were more free to speak in their new Northern setting. (B1)
- Yet they still faced great discrimination as the NRA allowed employers to pay black workers less than whites. (B2)
Outline your factors:
- The experience of black servicemen in the Second World War
- The role of Martin Luther King
- The emergence of effective black leaders
- The role of black civil rights organisations
- Prejudice and discrimination
outline your argument
Factor 1- The experience of black servicemen in the Second World War.
KU- Philip Randolph was a black serviceman who worked in the war industry. He threatened to lead a group of 100’000 people as black people were being treated unfairly in the army, which he didn’t believe was fair as they were all fighting for the same thing.
Analysis- This helped grow the civil rights movement, as the protest was taken to Washington, taking the campaign to the gates of the white house, which drew a lot of publicity to the campaign, and therefore a lot more supporters.
Analysis+- This led to President Roosevelt issuing Executive order 8802, which was a significant civil rights measure, ensuing discrimination in all areas of the defence industries.
KU- The “Double V” campaign was developed by black servicemen. It meant “double victory” meaning winning against fascism abroad but also beating racism at home.
Analysis- This drew attention to the Civil rights movement, but did not help it in anyway, as even though many black soldiers were winning medals receiving promotions, and even many returned as high ranking officers, they were still fighting in segregated regiments.
Evaluation- This helped develop the CRM by involving the government, which effectively drew more publicity.
Factor 2- The role of Martin Luther King
KU- MLK believed African Americans should oppose segregation by resisting in a peaceful nonviolent manner.
Analysis- this meant that they would show up the injustice of segregation and hope to make people feel ashamed and guilty.
Analysis+- this was important to the development of civil rights movement because he called on black Americans to demonstrate, resist without bitterness ;to be cursed and not reply ;to be beaten and not hit back.
KU- King organised the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Rosa parks was a middle aged black woman, who refused to give up her seat for a white man and was arrested. This was the start of the Montgomery bus boycott. On monday, december 5th 1955, 95% of black americans refused to ride the bus in montgomery, this protest lasted for a year.
Analysis- This helped grow the CRM as it led to the supreme court ruling that racial segregation on city buses was unconstitutional.
Evaluation- The role of MLK grew the CRM as he drew a lot of attention to the cause with his well organised protests and powerful speeches.
Factor 3- the emergence of effective black leaders
KU- Malcolm X became popular. He was a powerful speaker. He talked aggressively about white people and attacked the non violent ideas of MLK.
Analysis- Malcom X was keen to warn people about the graving problems in the Northern cities for black people, such as unemployment and drugs.
Analysis+- Similarly to King, he was an excellent public speaker however, he advocated for the use of violence to resist racism- this was unlike king. This direct but compassionate approach made him an important role model for black people in the North.
KU- Stokely Carmichael was a student leader. His movement, which became known as “black power”, demanded radical and immediate change to improve life for black people.
Analysis- This did not help grow the CRM as it causes a split, as one half of the CRM was for working with white people to further the CRM and the other half believed in “black power” and refused to work with white people.
Evaluation- The emergence of effective black leaders grew the CRM as it gave the cause some leadership and some direction, but also caused a split and caused fights within the movement
Factor 4- The role of black civil rights organisations
KU- The Student Non-violent Co-operation Comittee (SNCC) was an organisation of students that organised things such as sit-ins, boycotts, marches, freedom rides etc.
Analysis- This grew the CRM as it drew the attention of a lot of younger activities who didn’t want to get violent.
Analysis+- This organisation also helped develop the CRM as their sit-ins and boycotts fainted a lot of attention which led to the desegregation in places such as restaurants and theatres because the activists were drawing a lot of unwanted attention to the establishments, which led to the owners lifting segregation restrictions. This was a huge victory for the CRM.
KU- The Souther Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was an organisation founded by MLK. The organisation was brought together when MLK was receiving a lot of offers to be a part of the CRM. The organisation was in charge of keeping all of the CRM organisations connected and their main consistency was that they were peaceful and non-violent.
Analysis- This helped develop the CRM because it kept the organisations on the same page, making the CRM stronger and connected.
Analysis+- However, there was still organisations like “Black power” and “Black panthers” that revolves around using violence so this caused a split in the CRM, which did not develop the CRM.
Evaluation- The role of black civil rights organisations grew the CRM as it kept the CRM connected and organised.
Factor 5- Prejudice and discrimination
KU- Linda Brown was black and the local school in Topeka, Kansas was for white children only. Linda’s father, Oliver Brown, took the board of education to court and with bell from the NAACP, the case reached the Supreme Court, where they ruled that segregation in schools “brings on a sense of inferiority.” Therefore, segregation in schools was no longer legal.
Analysis- This developed the CRM as it was a huge step to desegregation in all walks of life, and it also guaranteed black children had the same education as white children.
KU- After the supreme court ruling in 1954, many towns and cities began to de-segregate their schools. At Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, the state governor and his police prevented nine black teenagers from entering the central high school. President Eisenhower was forced to act and he sent 500 federal troops to disperse the mobs and escort the 9 black children into school.
Analysis- This helped the development of the CRM as the “Little Rock nine” inspires many other black children and their parents to challenge segregation in their own schools and had a lasting effect far behind the state of Arkansas.
Analysis+- This was just another step forward to the CRM getting rid of segregation in all states in all walks of life.
Evaluation- Prejudice and discrimination grew the CRM as it ended segregation in education which again, was a huge step for the CRM.
Conclusion
- ATQ “In conclusion…”
- Provide relative judgements of at least 2 factors. Give a balanced assessment (A/A+)
- Give your judgement “overall”
